About Me

Compass set at true north. I have a thing for Arctic countries. Most obviously Iceland, but really any country that has a Viking past, which is actually quite a number of countries, not always Arctic either, if you count Sicily (invaded by the Normans = Norsemen = original Vikings). I have no Scandinavian blood in me, so this is not a search-for-my-roots quest. But I can pinpoint the moment I became fascinated with the Vikings, this formerly wild conquering tribe; it was in the York Museum in northern England many years ago. I was a young woman then, staring at a diorama of another young woman standing outside of a hut in a re-creation of medieval Viking York. I was hooked, natch. Since that day I’ve written a master’s thesis on the second Viking invasion of England; an unpublished historical novel set during the second Viking invasion of England (sensing a theme?); and now a blog about Iceland, where many of those wandering Vikings settled. What can I say—I’m working it out.

I recently finished reading a book: The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman by Nancy Marie Brown. It is Brown’s account of her trips to Canada, Greenland and Iceland where Gudrid, a Viking woman, who lived in the 9th century traveled back and forth. Quite fascinating and making me think that there must be some Viking DNA in my blood because I was so drawn to this story. Isn’t it interesting how we are drawn to certain cultures and time periods in human history…maybe we are looking to understand something that’s still relevant for our current lifetime?
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.

Hi Tory. I recently read your op-ed on Iceland Review’s website and enjoyed it. I’ve been traveling to Iceland since the mid-90s and lived in Rvk for two years in 2000 and 2001. I can commiserate and empathize with much of what you wrote, and I carry a bit of pride and satisfaction that I was able to experience and live in Iceland and make the lasting friendships I did before the tourism popularity boom of the last 5-8 years. Indeed, Iceland has been undergoing tremendous change as a result of that boom– some of it good, some of it bad. I can’t help but look back on the time before that boom somewhat wistfully. There’s just something about Iceland– a sense of place– that causes equal parts happiness and sadness to rise in me, and I hope I never lose that feeling.

Just read an article you wrote on the Iceland Review and wanted to say it made me very nostalgic for Iceland as well! Unfortunately, I have not seen the Iceland that was 15 years ago but even just within the last 2.5 years, it’s changed so dramatically.

My best friend and I are somewhat enchanted by this little country and have been making annual trips since our first in 2014! Going to peruse through your blog now!